Release date: Thursday 4 September, 2014   10.30am

Statewide trends 

In the 24 months to June 2014, none of the major offence categories showed a significant upward trend across the state as a whole.

Seven of the major offences showed significant downward trends:

The remaining 10 offences were stable.

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Although there were no state-wide increases in the top 17 offence categories, increases in some offences were recorded in parts of Greater Sydney.

The most notable of these were: an 11.8 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft in Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury; a 16.6 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) in Blacktown; and increases of 39.2 per cent, 14.3 per cent and 12.8 per cent in indecent assault, stealing from a retail store and stealing from a dwelling (respectively) in North Sydney and Hornsby.

Widespread reductions in crime occurred in two areas of Greater Sydney. The Central Coast and the City and Inner South both recorded significant decreases in crime in six out of the 17 major offence categories.

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

In regional NSW, the overall pattern was much the same, with most areas showing stable or falling crime rates but some areas showing an increase in crime.

These included the Far West and Orana (sexual assault up 24.5%; steal from a retail store up 30.3%), the Mid North Coast (indecent assault up 20.5%), the Central West (steal from a motor vehicle up 26.6%) and Coffs Harbour-Grafton (steal from a dwelling up 27.8%). The Central West, Richmond Tweed and Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven also experienced increases in fraud.

Other changes of note

Over the two years to June 2014, the incidence of non-domestic assault on licensed premises declined by 27.4 per cent in the Kings Cross Local Area Command (LAC).

There was no significant change in the Kings Cross LAC in the number of assaults over this period occurring outdoors/in public places.

There was no significant change over the two years to June 2014 in the incidence of non-domestic assault in the Sydney City LAC, either on licensed premises or outdoors/in public places.

Outside the top 17 offence categories, significant increases were recorded in the incidence of possession/use of amphetamines (up 16.1%), prohibited and regulated weapons offences (up 34.3%) and transport regulatory offences (up 22.3%).

Comments on the findings

The director of the Bureau, Dr Don Weatherburn, cautioned against interpreting the fall in assault in Kings Cross as evidence that the new restrictions on liquor licensing introduced in February this year are working.

"The incidence of assault always falls in the winter months and rises in the summer months. Almost all of the fall in assaults in Kings Cross LAC occurred before the introduction of restrictions on liquor licensing in Kings Cross and Sydney CBD."

"We won't have a clear picture of the effect of the new restrictions on assault until late this year or early next year.

Commenting on the other findings, Dr Weatherburn said that this was the first time in the Bureau's history that none of the top 17 offences had increased.

"Nevertheless, as far as sexual assault and assault are concerned, there is still a long way to go. These offences have not shown the substantial reductions that other categories of crime have shown."

"The growth in arrests for use and possession of amphetamines is also a matter of concern. The number of arrests for use/possession of amphetamine has grown by 124 per cent since January 2010. This is at a time when the Australian Crime Commission is reporting record seizures of this class of drug."

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 9231-9190

Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au